Styling The Bomber Jacket

The 90's has never been an era I have wanted to re-visit, I can sometimes be persuaded by a little 60's retro or perhaps a smidge of 70's boho, but the 90's? I remember it all too clearly to want to regurgitate anything that originated from this decade. Well, that was my original thought, and I'm pretty much sticking to it, accept for this. 

The bomber jacket. 

I was sceptical at first as I can still vividly recall the Naff co bomber jacket I begged my mum, eventually giving in and buying it for me off the market.

I thought I was the bees knees in it, I lived in it till the lining tore and my mum refused to let me go out in it any longer for fear of me looking (even more of) a gypsy. They were so trashy, I shudder at the mere thought of it. Those and Adidas 3 stripe trackie bottoms, chokers and Kickers boots are all things I gladly left behind.

But I kept seeing these rather nice updated versions of the Bomber Jacket everywhere. About 2 months ago my 13 year old stepdaughter was gazing longingly at a khaki Topshop bomber, and she asked if I would wear it. I told her she must shoot me if i ever stood within 5 feet of it as it was  a crime I must never commit.

Well someone hand her the gun as it would seem I just committed my own worst crime.

Maybe its living a little dangerously but I really like it.

Granted I have not gone for the full on shell type, padded Bomber jacket (although am seriously contemplating), but a rather chic (ok, chic to me) update on the Bomber. Not a shell suit in site.

Weirdly, its this satin feel with the black elasticated ribbing that makes this totally more accessible to me, and as I've mentioned previously, being a pair shape I think it actually weighs out my proportions quite nicely.

Plus safe colour = khaki. I love khaki.

I opted for some skinny jeans (after swearing them off last week, I know- I know, apparently I'm not quite ready to quit them) and some killer red heels to avoid the overtly 90's look, choosing to bring the look up to date and making it more wearable for me today, y'know in 2016 (by the way what will we refer to this era as? Its an odd number to shorten to a cute reference, is there one and I just don't know it? Do tell and put me out of my misery.)

Wearing:
Red Shoes
Jeans
Boxy top (Similar)
Bag (similar)
Bomber Jacket (similar)

So ladies, The Bomber Jacket. Thoughts? Do you like? Do you hate? And would you wear?

Adidas Gazelles and Cropped Kick-flare Jeans (& #Passion4Fashion Linkup)

I introduced my first pair of Cropped Kickflare jeans on Monday in a smart look, today is my second more casual look with another pair... What can I say, I really do like them. Today showcasing their versatility in a more casual outfit.

So desperate I was for a more spring-esque outfit you know, blazers, and stripes, that I donned a thermal vest and went for it anyway. It was dry at least, but 5 degrees meant it was still bloody freezing.  The scarf helped combat the chill factor and also injected a nice hit of sunshine yellow, which got me even more in the mood for Spring. 

The weather forecast looks abysmal for the next 10 days so faking spring is where I'm at.

Have you noticed a common thread amongst style/fashion bloggers. We love clothes and talking about the weather..haha! I guess we're always praying to the weather Gods so we can wear all the pretty clothes we want.

So have I convinced you in regards to the Cropped Kickflare yet? Would you see yourself giving them a go?

Adidas Gazelle sneakers
Cropped Kick flare Jeans
Next Blazer
Yosa Bag
Similar scarf
Uniqlo Stripe top

An InLinkz Link-up

Spring Wardrobe Update

Well, it's literally just started sleeting outside as I type this. Spring where the heck are you? I got woken up by a crazy storm last night and then attacked my golf-ball sized hail stones on the school run.
Spring has not sprung here I can tell you that.
But I for one am done with winter, come the end of February I am ready to shed the thermals and start looking towards lighter layers, weather permitting or not, sometimes you just gotta do what you want. Granted no bare legs just yet, but adapting some Spring pieces and adding them in now sounds like a plan to wet the spring-wear appetite.
So transitional pieces it is then.
I'm kind of in love with all the pieces I've chosen below for the simple fact of wear-ability.
If I were to finally take the plunge and commit to a capsule wardrobe (and I am so so tempted, but i keep nancying out like a big scaredy cat) this would be a large portion of the capsule.
Style is most definitely simplifying for me, but I am actually the happiest I've been in years.
Simple to me means great pieces, just less of them.

(side note: Hells bells, I thought my house was just going to blow away.. A huge gust and those blasted golf ball size hail stones attacking my window.. evil, evil weather!!)

With Shopbop's Super Spring Sale now seems as good a time as any to treat myself to some much yearned after spring wear.

Clothing:

The throw-on Khaki Jacket ,
Beautifully cut Ankle Grazer Jeans(Loving the brand Frame),
The Wear everywhere Dress,
The perfect Kahki chino's,
The obligatory stripe top,
Dress up or down black skirt,
and the handy slogan swetashirt

Shoes:

Bright red pumps for fun kicks,

Sandals in-case it gets warm enough

And a block heel for smart-casual

Bags:

Keeping it simple with a much lusted after, rather trendy Backpack

and a classic leopard print clutch for a smarter look.

I love , love ,love all these pieces. The reason they're all from Shopbop (apart from that I love that store, I swear their deliveries from America arrive faster than some of my British orders, it never fails to happily surprise me when the UPS man knocks my door a mere 2 days after ordering, its like magic!), is because their sale works on the more you spend the more you save. Plus with a good pound to dollar rate, it can be save save ;)

Spring Sale details here

Is there anything you like up there for Spring? And have you started your Spring shopping yet?

#MAKEASWITCH.. A start of something new!

Do you recall back in January I was talking about resolutions and what I would like to attempt to achieve this year? (And if you don't remember, I don't blame you, my memory is diabolical and it’s my own life I'm talking about, that post is here)

Well I have a little announcement to make today which is both exciting and scary (no I'm not pregnant - just throwing that out there)

I have started a creative writing course with the help of M&S Bank’s #makeaswitch campaign.

Reading and writing is something that I have loved since a very young age. I grew up watching my mum read profusely, making weekly trips to the library was standard for our family and reading everything and anything we could get our hands on was how we spent our days (there were only 4 channels of TV when I was young.. reading was where it was at.)

Then as I went in to high school I began to write and I loved it. It was cathartic and immensely enjoyable to me. But then life, jobs and well, boys, got all up in my biz and I kinda started to live and no longer write.

When things settled down and I finally found my footing again with a comfortable, happy life with my family I found blogging. At first it reignited my love for writing, giving me that place I needed to express myself and have a little voice in a big wide world. Four years in and I'm still here, and I love this little place, I truly do. I never realised how much blogging has become a big part of who I am until I sat down to write about it. It's not just a hobby or a job, but a huge part of what makes me tick. It’s like a segment of my personality right here.

But (and when is there not a but, right?) my writing here has always felt limited. Self-limited. Nobody tells me what to write here, nobody but me dictates the words that form on this blank space I type on practically every day, and yet I know my writing wasn't improving.

The thought of something out of my comfort zone, scares the Bejesus out of me. 

Blogging is well and truly my comfort zone. I come here, I type, I have a bit of banter with you lovely ladies and then it's on to the next post. It’s fast-paced and forgiving, which is a lovely comfy environment to plonk oneself safely down in and stay there.

But there's this little nagging voice in my head that says 'Shift yourself love... there's more you can do'.

And that is what I'm embarking upon.

M&S Bank offered to fund a course of my choosing to give me a nice polite shove in the right direction.

Which is exactly what I needed.

With their help I chose an online writing course through The UK Writers College in the Basics of Creative Writing. 

Starting right where I should, at the very beginning and refreshing my skills and learning a lot of new ones.

You guys, I am so excited. You know that feeling when you go to bed smiling, your head whirling with thoughts and ideas and that fuzzy feeling of pure excitement?

Well that's been me. 

I finally feel like I'm doing something for me.

I'm actually doing it and not just talking it.

And my goodness it feels fantastic.

So far I'm only half way through module one and I have enjoyed every second of it.

This is a small passage of 250 words I wrote from just a leading sentence which really helped to get the creative juices flowing... needless to say I am more than a little rusty. 

As she turned the radio on Mrs Eedes heard the breaking news.

“A suspected bomb has been detonated at St. Marys High School, causalities are unknown at this present time. Emergency services are on site and dealing with the situation. We will keep you updated with information as and when we receive it”

Mrs Eedes sunk down against the kitchen cabinet as her knees gave way, she starred at the space between her and the radio. Hot tears filled her eyes and burst down her cheek.

“Sammy” She whispered.

So yes I am writing and yes there is masses of room for improvement, of which I will be completely embracing, but I can't believe how much fun I'm having pushing my boundaries and learning new ways to express myself. 

It honestly feels like I'm ticking off a major life goal here as it’s something that has been nagging away in the back of my head for far too long.

Going forward? Well complete the course hopefully! Then maybe another course and then maybe eventually start on that book that I've got somewhere (deep, deep, deep down) inside of me.

That's the dream.

And so on that note I will finish on just saying, if you have anything you are dreaming of, that one thing that's nagging you in the back of your head that just won't quit, embrace it. Let it out.

I am the happiest I've been in a long time. Unleash yourself.

Who knows what could happen, am I right?